Huby dooby doo

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 3, 2023

Published: Nov. 3, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I'll start by saying that I know 100% CGY would not do this trade. They'd much rather ride out Huberdeau in hopes of him turning things around, than trade him. The reason I'm posting this is because me and a buddy (Flames fan) were talking about how the Flames are struggling and what a Huberdeau trade would look like. Neither of us could come to an agreement lol

This is more of a thought experiment now on how unmovable his contract currently is. Because the Habs more than likely still refuse this deal, but are one of the very few teams that could realistically make it work.


Let's break it down. From a salary standpoint, Huberdeau is owed roughly $84mil! and $61.5mil of that is in signing bonuses!!!!!!! (for clarity, Huberdeau has already been paid $7mil of that $61.5mil) That in of itself limits potential buyers. Due to smaller market teams being unable, or at the very least be unwilling, to take on that much cash up front. So, that limits CGY to trading with larger market teams. Now of those large market teams, there's probably only 1 or 2 who could take on his cap hit (MTL being one of them).
Now let's not forget Huberdeau's NMC for the first 6 years of his deal. Giving him the last say on which team he can go to.
So, adding all this with his underwhelming performances. You have the very definition of an unmovable player.


For the trade itself I'll preface this is essentially a one-for-one deal of Anderson for Huberdeau as the core of the trade. This, imo, is not sufficient enough basing on the quality of both players. MTL should be adding additional player(s).
Carey Price being included is strictly to try and offset the salary differences. And even then.... Adding both Anderson and Prices remaining salary owed ($40.5mil) and reducing that from Huberdeau's remaining $77mil salary ($84mil minus the $7mil he's already been paid). Habs would still be on the hook for adding $36.5mil!!!! Not to mention both Anderson and Prices contract end in 2027. Huberdeau's contract does not end until 2031.

So at the end of all of this, the Habs would be taking on $36.5mil more, and an additional 4 years, of salary with this trade. So I would argue that CGY would need to add assets on their side of the trade.


So I call to you all to try and figure out a way, if at all possible, to make a Huberdeau trade to MTL work (That would appeal to both sides). And if CGY continues to struggle this season, you can anticipate more Huberdeau trades on this site to pop up lol so see this post as more of a preemptive attempt at discussing this topic.